News about Faculty & Staff

Penn College’s Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship program culminated in graduation on Friday morning, followed by breakout networking opportunities with three of the initiative’s industry partners. Seven of the pre-apprentices (four high schoolers and three young adults from across Pennsylvania) attended in person with their families, receiving certificates of completion and Certified Manufacturing Associate status from the Society for Manufacturing Engineers, among other credentials. Participants learn foundational knowledge and skills related to manufacturing careers during the semester-long program, a substantial commitment that was acknowledged at the ceremony by Ross A. Berger, manager of the MIDAS grant that funds the college’s pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship offerings, and industry technology specialists Chris D. Gramling and Adam J. Yoder. The brief ceremony in Penn’s Inn was followed by Industry Day and a campus tour; taking time to talk with the pre-apprentices were representatives of First Quality, Kawneer and West Pharmaceutical Services Inc.

With Baby Boomer retirements and pandemic-era voluntary departures only adding to the skills gap in industry, Workforce Development’s 2022 Penn College Apprenticeship Summit provided timely food for thought. Tuesday’s daylong event in Penn’s Inn brought together experienced industry representatives and empathetic partners to discuss current trends and the workforce of the future, and brainstormed how apprenticeship programs play a crucial role in recruiting and retaining high-quality employees. Workforce Development serves as a comprehensive clearinghouse for apprenticeships at companies of all sizes, and customizes those offerings to meet industry’s specific needs in fields including mechatronics, robotics, health care, plastics and diesel. In addition to such benefits as career advancement, higher income and a competitive edge, participants in those registered programs now have a pathway to an associate degree in apprenticeship technology.

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More than 40 Pennsylvania College of Technology students obtained valuable industry certifications related to engineering design in 2021-22, including one student who became the first in school history to earn certified SolidWorks expert status.

Benson P. Weaver, an engineering design technology major from Lititz, passed four advanced topic tests (sheet metal, drawing tools, surfacing and weldments) before successfully completing the most challenging SolidWorks exam: Certified SolidWorks Expert in Mechanical Design.

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For a decade, Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Baja SAE team has placed among the nation’s elite in grueling endurance races. After Baja SAE Tennessee Tech, the team reigns supreme.

Penn College topped a 72-car field in Cookeville, Tennessee, on Sunday to win the endurance race for the first time, besting the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Cornell, Rochester Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Auburn and Texas A&M. The four-hour race, consisting of rugged terrain and tight turns, is Baja SAE’s marquee event.

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With more than 2 million manufacturing jobs projected to go unfilled by 2030 and women making up just 29% of the field’s workforce, it’s undeniable: There’s untapped potential in the world of manufacturing – especially for women. A new YouTube video lets employers and job-seekers alike discover the advantages of these game-changing apprenticeship programs and gives women a huge step toward higher-level positions in the nation’s fast-paced, technologically advanced manufacturing sector. “I don’t think a lot of women understand what manufacturing is,” says Shannon Bower, quality manager at First Quality Products. “I think they see it as that stereotypical laborer getting dirty working with their hands. But new manufacturing is definitely not that.” The 5½-minute video – produced, photographed and edited by Penn College’s Tom Speicher – premiered at Tuesday’s 2022 Penn College Apprenticeship Summit.

Pennsylvania College of Technology has chosen Neslihan “Nesli” Alp as its vice president for academic affairs and provost, the highest-ranking academic officer at the institution, a special mission affiliate of Penn State.

The Penn College Board of Directors approved the selection of Alp at a special meeting today. Her starting date is expected to be Aug. 1. She succeeds Michael J. Reed, who is set to become the college’s new president on July 1, following the retirement of Davie Jane Gilmour, who retires June 30 after 24 years as president.

Since 2018, Alp has been at Indiana State University, where she has served as dean and professor for the 2,000-student College of Technology. In that role, she led five departments, the Flight Academy, and Air Force and Army ROTC, overseeing 80 faculty and 20 staff.

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Pennsylvania College of Technology held three ceremonies May 13-14 for the nearly 750 students who petitioned to graduate at the end of the Spring 2022 semester – the last of 135 commencement exercises to be held under President Davie Jane Gilmour. “My life is better for all of the students I’ve dealt with, interacted with, shook hands with for the last 24 years,” said the president, who is retiring June 30. “I am so proud of you and what you’ve done, and I want you to remember one thing: If you make yourself proud every day, then we will be Penn College Proud. And no matter where you go or what you do, you will always have a home at Penn College.” Bittersweet and joyful, nostalgic and raucous (with cowbells, air horns and confetti cannons), it truly offered moments to cherish, and not just for the 20,000th graduate to cross the stage and receive one-on-one congratulations.

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It was meant to be the somewhat routine continuation of a 25-year campus ritual, President Davie Jane Gilmour’s proud presentation of Penn College Awards to kick off the commencement weekend that hectically (yet happily) ends the spring semester.

The awards were first distributed in 1997 to recognize graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to Pennsylvania College of Technology through their involvement in campus life, the leadership positions that they have held and the service that they have provided to the college community.

But the opening remarks from Elliott Strickland Jr., vice president for student affairs – who billed this season’s event as “an evening of astonishing stories” – held a curveball that would both respect and redefine that enduring tradition.

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In addition to receiving baccalaureate degrees this weekend, seven Army ROTC cadets at Pennsylvania College of Technology were commissioned as second lieutenants and assigned their Army component and branch.

Upon commissioning, the cadets committed to four years of active duty or eight years in the Army Reserve or National Guard.

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As part of the spring semester wind-down, Penn College employees gathered near the Field House for catered lunch and camaraderie. Thursday’s picnic – the first since before the pandemic – brought together staff and faculty from across campus to relax in the outdoors before the weekend’s commencement activities.

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In the final all-college address before her June 30 retirement, Pennsylvania College of Technology President Davie Jane Gilmour found the difficult words to sum up 44 years on campus – the last two-dozen as its leader.

“I have made mistakes, but – together – we have accomplished a great deal through extraordinary times – not just recent months, but in 24 years of change and adaptation, feast and famine,” she said, during an emotional mix of candid self-assessment and genuine gratitude. “We have always worked hard, kept students in sharp focus and moved this venture forward – and in the process, we have transformed lives. If I had but one small piece of that, then my career has been fulfilled.”

She was followed to the lectern by her imminent successor, Michael J. Reed, who put into perspective Gilmour’s “extraordinary” tenure as Penn College president: “If someone had visited this campus in May 1998, when you became president, and did not return until today, they would be utterly astounded by the transformation.”

Their remarks were preceded by recognition of faculty and staff with a series of end-of-semester honors – including the surprise inauguration of an award with a provenance steeped in campus lore.

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With the end of another academic year at hand, Pennsylvania College of Technology renewed a spring custom: presenting awards to noteworthy faculty and staff, and acknowledging retirements and other employee milestones.

President Davie Jane Gilmour acknowledged the honorees during an expansive all-college meeting, held May 12 in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium and livestreamed.

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Assorted explorations in the science of brewing were eagerly appraised by industry experts last week in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s brewing & fermentation lab.

Ten students graduating with certificates in brewing & fermentation science presented their capstone projects in two evening sessions attended by 15 brewing professionals – four of whom are alumni.

Brews presented were: Irish red ale, saison, green tea hazy IPA, sorghum ale, German hefeweizen, Belgian pale ale, fruited sour and gruit.

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Thirteen students of Karen R. Ruhl, horticulture instructor and last year’s recipient of a Part-Time Teaching Excellence Award, recently completed their final projects at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center – all in one day of real-time accomplishment – and displayed them at The Madigan Library. Helen L. Yoas, librarian for metadata and discovery initiatives (and whose duties as liaison librarian to the School of Engineering Technologies include the Diesel Technology & Natural Resources Division), captured the students’ imaginative spirit and also photographed the completed work once installed and appreciated on the library’s first floor. Ruhl’s The Art of Floral Design (HRT 260), a popular elective, is open to all academic majors.

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On May 1, 80 Girl Scouts and community members helped to plant 400 trees and shrubs of 12 species on the grounds of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center near Allenwood. The event was part of the college’s Arbor Day celebration and the Girl Scouts’ Tree Promise.

For Earth Day 2022, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania is planting 2,022 trees. It is part of Girl Scouts USA’s mission to plant, protect or honor 5 million trees by 2026.

In addition to learning about the importance of the trees they were planting, children visited the Pennsylvania WoodMobile, took part in hands-on education stations staffed by students and faculty, received gardening gloves from Penn College and swag from the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, and earned the GSUSA Tree Promise and Chesapeake Bay Foundation Clean Water Grows on Trees patches.

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